Mr Johnson was asked about the incident a number of times by hustings moderator Iain Dale, an LBC radio presenter, but each time avoided answering the question.

After being accused by Mr Dale of ducking the question, Mr Johnson did not respond directly, instead saying: “People are entitled to ask me what I want to do for the country.”

Image copyrightReutersImage caption Boris Johnson told members of the audience not to boo Iain Dale

Mr Dale pressed again, telling Mr Johnson: “If the police are called to your home it makes it everyone’s business.

“You are running for the office of not just Conservative Party leader, but prime minister, so a lot of people who admire your politics do call into question your character, and it is incumbent on you to answer that question.”

In response, Mr Johnson accepted this was “a fair point” and said he “was a man who keeps to political promises”.

Pressed another two times on the issue, Mr Johnson said it was “pretty obvious from the foregoing” he would not be making further comments on the incident.

Mr Dale was jeered by members of the audience at one point during the exchange, but Mr Johnson responded by telling the crowd “not to boo the great man”.

Image copyrightPAImage caption Carrie Symonds pictured with Mr Johnson’s father Stanley at a demonstration earlier this year

The report of the row between Mr Johnson and Ms Symonds in the Guardian said a neighbour had told the newspaper they heard a woman screaming followed by “slamming and banging” in the early hours of Friday.

It said that in the recording – heard by the Guardian, but not by the BBC – Mr Johnson was refusing to leave the flat and telling the woman to “get off” his laptop before there was a loud crashing noise.

Ms Symonds is allegedly heard saying the MP had ruined a sofa with red wine: “You just don’t care for anything because you’re spoilt. You have no care for money or anything.”

‘Important public interest’

The neighbour who made the recording has since made a statement explaining his reasons for contacting the Guardian about the row.

Tom Penn, 29, said he and his wife had concerns for their neighbour’s safety.

He told the paper: “Once clear that no one was harmed, I contacted the Guardian, as I felt it was of important public interest.

“I believe it is reasonable for someone who is likely to become our next prime minister to be held accountable for all of their words, actions and behaviours.

“I, along with a lot of my neighbours all across London, voted to remain within the EU. That is the extent of my involvement in politics.”

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